How do you stay faithful when the answer you receive isn’t the one you want?
Sometimes, I’ve hoped that if I prayed hard or often enough I could change God’s will. I’d ask with all my heart (maybe mistaking my deep pleading for faith), only to be disappointed when God didn’t grant my righteous desires. Sound familiar? So, how can we stay faithful to the answers we do receive?
Staying faithful to the answers we need
Following Sister Patricia Holland’s funeral, President Jeffrey R. Holland was admitted to the hospital himself.President and Sister Holland were both having severe health complications, and people across the world prayed for both of them to recover. While many hoped Sister Holland would heal, that was not the will of God. Even in his grief, President Holland taught that you can stay faithful even when what you need is not what you want.
“I testify that both of those prayers were heard and answered by a divinely compassionate Heavenly Father, even if the prayers for Pat were not answered the way I asked. It is for reasons known only to God why prayers are answered differently than we hope—but I promise you they are heard and they are answered according to His unfailing love and cosmic timetable.”
It can be hard to accept all answers to prayers, especially when we have a limited understanding. But if we choose to not just trust in what God teaches but to trust Him when He promises us blessings, that He will fulfill them, we can feel optimistic in whatever the outcome is.
Earl’s wrestle with God
In 2018, Victoria Walters started BYU-Pathway Worldwide but never completed a degree because she passed away six weeks shy of her 28th birthday. Life was very dark and difficult for her parents, Earl and Ruth.
“Being the only active member of the family, I wrestled with a way to honor my daughter and keep going,” Earl said. “I chose to register for PathwayConnect. Having been away from college for over 50 years, it was challenging. During the program, I strengthened my faith, testimony, and conversion. I was able to overcome the need to cry every day. I learned to focus on Jesus Christ and pray in ways I never dreamed possible.”
At 74 years old, Earl completed PathwayConnect in April 2022 and became a service missionary for BYU-Pathway to help other students. Even though Earl’s vision for his life and Victoria’s did not turn out as he imagined, his wrestle with God led him on a path to honor his daughter, strengthen his faith, and serve a mission.
Our will vs. God’s will
“Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and [our will] are brought into correspondence with each other.”God knows you. He is aware of your desires. You can better understand His plan for you as you turn to Him in prayer. Sometimes you might recognize His answers immediately; sometimes you might only see them when you look back. But you can trust that He is your loving Heavenly Father and He is always listening.